SAS manages to out-do BA with a new service cut …. which hopefully BA won’t follow

Whilst British Airways has become a little paranoid about Norwegian’s low cost long haul operation from Gatwick – which has led to BA launching ‘spoiler’ routes to Oakland and Fort Lauderdale – it is Scandinavian airline SAS which has taken the brunt of the pain from Norwegian’s growth.

Like BA, SAS has been attempting to take layers of cost out of their operations.  Like BA, they will probably find that all this does is drive away the sticky corporate traffic which is happy to pay higher fares until it seems pointless due to service dilution.

If you were unhappy with some of the recent BA changes, take note of what SAS has just announced.

Third party lounge access and fast track security will no longer be provided on Plus short-haul fares or to Gold card holders.

SAS, technically, does not have short haul Business Class.  Plus is as near as it gets – added ticket flexibility, free food, extra luggage allowance, lounge access and fast track security.

SAS will still allow Plus ticket holders and Gold card card holders to use SAS or other Star Alliance lounges if they exist.  However, at airports without a lounge run by a Star Alliance member, you will no longer be getting in, irrespective of how much your ticket cost or how shiny your status card.

This clearly saves SAS some money.   Third party lounges will be charging €10 – €15 for access, and airports charge a small sum for letting passengers use Fast Track security lanes.  In the context of a £700 Plus ticket from Heathrow to Stockholm, however, it is hardly a lot.

(I found Plus fares from Heathrow as “low” as £436, to be fair, but they did go as high as £700.)

The interesting point is that this is NOT being done to allow the airline to offer lower fares at the bottom end.  Plus is the most expensive ticket type sold by SAS on short haul.  On the face of it this seems to be a slightly crazy move which will save a very small amount of money but risks losing the high paying corporate customers that the airline relies on.

For customers flying SAS from London, the impact is minor but there will be changes.  SAS customers will no longer be able to use the Plaza Premium lounge in Terminal 2A.  They will be able to use the Lufthansa lounge in 2A – which is not as nice in my view – or the various Star lounges in 2B.  2B is a long trot if your flight departs from 2A, however.

Full details can be found on this page of the SAS website – scroll to the bottom.

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How to get FREE airport lounge access via UK credit cards (April 2025)

Here are the five options to get FREE airport lounge access via a UK credit card.

The Platinum Card from American Express comes with two free Priority Pass cards, one for you and one for a supplementary cardholder. Each card admits two so a family of four gets in free. You get access to all 1,500 lounges in the Priority Pass network – search it here.

You also get access to Eurostar, Lufthansa and Delta Air Lines lounges.  Our American Express Platinum review is here.

You can apply here.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on American Express Platinum is increased from 50,000 Membership Rewards points to a huge 80,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (80,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.

The Platinum Card from American Express

80,000 bonus points and great travel benefits – for a large fee Read our full review

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold is FREE for the first year. It comes with a Priority Pass card loaded with four free visits to any Priority Pass lounge – see the list here.

Additional lounge visits are charged at £24.  You get four more free visits for every year you keep the card.  

There is no annual fee for Amex Gold in Year 1 and you get a 20,000 points sign-up bonus.  Full details are in our American Express Preferred Rewards Gold review here.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on the ‘free for a year’ American Express Preferred Rewards Gold card is increased from 20,000 Membership Rewards points to 30,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (30,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold

Your best beginner’s card – 30,000 points, FREE for a year & four airport lounge passes Read our full review

HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard gets you get a free Priority Pass card, allowing you access to the Priority Pass network.  Guests are charged at £24 although it may be cheaper to pay £60 for a supplementary credit card for your partner.

The card has a fee of £290 and there are strict financial requirements to become a HSBC Premier customer.  Full details are in my HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard review.

HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard

A good package, but only available to HSBC Premier clients Read our full review

Got a small business?

If you have a small business, consider American Express Business Platinum which has the same lounge benefits as the personal Platinum card:

American Express Business Platinum

50,000 points when you sign-up and an annual £200 Amex Travel credit Read our full review

You should also consider the Capital on Tap Pro Visa credit card which has a lower fee and, as well as a Priority Pass for airport lounge access, also comes with Radison Rewards VIP hotel status:

Capital on Tap Pro Visa

10,500 points (=10,500 Avios) plus good benefits Read our full review

PS. You can find all of HfP’s UK airport lounge reviews – and we’ve been to most of them – indexed here.